Rep. Ed Markey to Run for John Kerry’s Senate Seat

Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call(WASHINGTON) — Democratic Representative Ed Markey of Massachusetts announced plans on Thursday to run in 2013 for the U.S. Senate seat from his state that is expected to be available in the wake of Democratic Sen. John Kerry’s nomination to be the next secretary of state.

Kerry, the current chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is expected to be easily confirmed by the Senate to replace outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Markey, who just won his 20th term in the House, issued a statement Thursday, saying in part, “I have decided to run for the U.S. Senate because this fight is too important. There is so much at stake.”

“We need a Senator who will work with President Obama, and anyone else, to move our country and our Commonwealth forward. I look forward to traveling to every corner of the Commonwealth and meeting with the people who make Massachusetts so great,” Markey said.

Kerry’s seat will be filled by a special election early next summer. Two other Massachusetts Democrats have also expressed an interest in running for the Senate seat: Congressmen Michael Capuano and Stephen Lynch.

Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, the moderate Republican who lost his bid for re-election in November to consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren, is also expected to consider a run for Kerry’s seat.